They were asked to keep working out for as long as they could, while the speed and gradient on the treadmill was increased.

The study, by Texas Tech University Health Sciences, found that those who were asked to listen to music managed to keep going for almost eight and a half minutes - nearly a minute longer than those who were pounding the treadmill in silence.

The group listening to music was also found to have expended more energy during their session.

Dr Waseem Shami, lead researcher, said researchers had suspected that music would help keep participants motivated, given its impact on mood.

He said: "At least on a small scale, this study provides some evidence that music may help serve as an extra tool to help motivate someone to exercise more, which is critical to heart health."

"Our findings reinforce the idea that upbeat music has a synergistic effect in terms of making you want to exercise longer and stick with a daily exercise routine," he said.

"When doctors are recommending exercise, they might suggest listening to music too."

The study, being presented at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session, involved participants with an average age of 53. Much of it was Latin-inspired, reflecting the fact the majority of participants were Hispanic.